I get a lot of questions about whether it is okay to give garlic to your baby. I really encourage giving this to your baby. Parents often ask me how to serve garlic to a baby and I typically suggest that you mix it into a lentil paste. I find that adding garlic into lentils is an easy way to start giving your baby garlic. From there the possibilities are endless.

Garlic is in many dishes and when you were pregnant you were likely eating garlic, thus exposing your baby to it. If you are now breastfeeding, the baby tastes it as well. I certainly don’t avoid giving babies garlic. Although nutritionally, the amount of garlic you give to a baby is not significant, I do feel that this is an important food to introduce to your little one.

For this baby, garlic was a food that was eaten regularly by Mama both during pregnancy and breastfeeding. He honestly didn’t seem to notice the addition of garlic to lentils. Happily, there was no problem with gas from the introduction of garlic either.

Need some other ideas of what to offer your baby? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future Registered Dietitian at [email protected]

Looking for an simple way to make something cool and refreshing in the heat? This is so easy, no ice cream maker necessary, and the flavour possibilities are endless. Over a few hours you can make an allergy friendly "ice cream". This is gluten and dairy free. Another bonus is if you have bananas that are getting quite ripe you can use them up in this recipe. Let the kids choose the fruit and help blend this all up. A mini food processor works, it may feel like it's not blending into a smooth consistency but don't give up! Enjoy.

2            Bananas
1/4 cup Frozen raspberries
1/4 cup Frozen strawberries
1/4 cup Frozen cherries
1 tsp     Vanilla

1. Slice bananas and freeze in a container for about 2 hours.
2. Put frozen banana slices, frozen fruit and vanilla into food processor and process until smooth. 
3. Put back into container and smooth with spatula. Freeze until solid like "ice cream".

Looking for other recipes the kids can help with? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at [email protected] 

Congratulations. You may just be finding out now that you are pregnant.

This can be a hard time for many women. It is common to feel extremely tired during this period of pregnancy. Many women also experience a queasiness commonly called morning sickness, however, it often seems like it can come at any time of day, and sometimes even last throughout the day.

So, what is important to focus on at this stage?

-       Keep eating. Although you might feel queasy, if your stomach is empty it can make it a lot worse. Often if you have          something small, and typically bland to eat, it can make the queasiness subside.

-       If you aren’t already taking a prenatal multivitamin, start.

-       If you are taking a multivitamin, switch to one that is specific for pregnancy.

At this stage in your pregnancy, you don’t need to add in any extra food. That will come later. During the first trimester, women do not need to gain much weight, about 2 to 4 lbs, seems to be enough to be healthy (1). Some women even lose weight during the first trimester, as a result of nausea, etc.

At this point in your pregnancy your baby is very small, about the size of a lentil (2) Remember that you are not eating for two as much as you are eating for the health of two. The focus should be on the quality of what you are eating, versus the quantity.

Pregnancy is a great time to start making changes in your health. Start small and you will be amazed at the difference you see.

Are you in the early stages of pregnancy and looking for more support? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future’s Registered Dietitian at [email protected]

References:
1 http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/prenatal/ewba-mbsa-eng.php#a2
2 http://www.babycentre.co.uk/6-weeks-pregnant